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Pierzynski shrugs off reunion with White Sox

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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski was in the lineup on Tuesday against his former team, facing the White Sox at Surprise Stadium. Pierzynski spent eight seasons with Chicago before signing with Texas in the offseason, but he didn't see the reunion as being a big deal.

"Not really. ... I guess. ... I don't know. It's just a Spring Training game," Pierzynski said. "I'm sure it will be different when we go to Chicago and I'm on the visiting side. This is Spring Training; this is not a big deal."

The Rangers play the White Sox on Wednesday at 2:05 p.m. CT in Glendale, but Pierzynski is not expected to make the trip. The teams don't face each other again until March 26 in Surprise. Their regular-season meetings are April 30-May 2 in Arlington and Aug. 23-25 in Chicago.

Pierzynski was behind the plate on Tuesday with Yu Darvish on the mound. Although manager Ron Washington likes the way Geovany Soto works with Darvish, he wants Pierzynski to catch him as well, especially in Spring Training.

"He has to," Washington said. "The next time Darvish pitches, you may see Soto. But A.J. has to. He has to see his stuff, how it moves and what his best pitches are. A.J. is our everyday guy."